Louisiana Plantations

In 1860, just before the start of the Civil War on both sides of the  Mississippi River from the top of Louisiana down to the Gulf of Mexico you would find 70% of all the millionaires in the United States lived on plantations along the river. 

This map was made just before the civil war and was hidden in the attic because it showed where all the plantation owners lived along the river.  It was found by accident during renovations.

These were beautiful homes but they are at least 150 years old or older.  So they did not have electricity or air conditioning.  To cool the houses they had lots of windows that they could open up on both sides of the house so the breeze would go through.

Not all of the plantation houses were huge buildings but they were all reflective of the family's status and tastes.  

The chair in the center of the parlor are connected together.  It is a courting chair. It is designed so a young woman and her beau could talk together properly without touching while courting.

  

Entertaining was very important.  This is not the everyday dinner table.  This was used to impress visitors and 4 hour meals with 9 courses would not be uncommon.   

The houses had very few clothes closets because they would be taxed as a full size room.  So they would purchase these beautiful furniture pieces to store their clothes.

Nottoway

Nottoway is the largest surviving plantation houses along the Mississippi River.  It has 53,000 sq. ft.  60+ rooms 200+ windows.

This place was incredible to visit.

This is the mail floor parlor / ball room.  Yes, it had a white painted floor.  Look at the top of the columns.

The ceilings are 15 feet high and the doors are at least 11 feet high.

Read more about Nottoway .http://www.nottoway.com/html/nottoway-plantation-history.htm

Slavery

The Plantations were beautiful and the owners became millionaires but all of this wealth was earned by the labor of slaves.  

Slaves were bought and sold just like cars 

Slaves were not paid for working but laws were made that stated the owner would have to properly feed, clothe, care for and provide housing.  A family of slaves should have a minimum of a 16' x 16' house

Guess what size this little cabin is?

Most slaves were treated fairly well because they were very expensive.  A strong young field slave could cost more than $50,000 (in today's dollars).  You wanted to protect that investment.  

The punishment for a slave who tried to run away or who disobeyed was usually whipping.  

The whipping would be very painful and leave scars.

These were chains that were used to control slaves.   Some owners were very cruel. Others were very fair to there slaves.  The owner of Nottoway was one of the good owners.  When the civil war started and President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation  The owner of Nottoway could have sold all of his 150 slaves to a plantation owner in Cuba.  Instead he freed all of his slaves and hired those who wanted to work for him. Most chose to stay and work for him.

Search Google:  Emancipation Proclamation?

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Love Grandpa & Grandma